On his 50th appearance for the Reds, Chris Wood struck from 25 yards to send the City Ground into a frenzy.

An action-packed first half saw both sides crash efforts off the post and the Kiwi international test the Palace goal to no avail.

On 65 minutes, a poor clearance from Nathaniel Chalobah broke nicely for Wood to fire an effort under Dean Henderson into the bottom left corner.

Matz Sels produced a fine save to deny Eberechi Eze from 30 yards as it became apparent it would take something special to beat the Reds' number one.

As it happened Occupying a relegation place pre-game, the Eagles were still searching for their first win of the season.

In came Daichi Kamada and Will Hughes from the start as Oliver Glasner looked too sure up a side shipping goals left, right and centre.

Forest, on the other hand, were enjoying a fruitful spell largely thanks to a much-improved defensive record.

Losing two creative outlets in Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse to injury and suspension respectively was far from ideal for Nuno Espirto-Santo, the Forest manager joining Ward-Prowse in the stands for the Monday night affair after his dismissal against Brighton in late September.

Nicolas Dominguez and Elliot Anderson were given the task of filling their void, as the Reds looked to get their first win after toppling Liverpool at Anfield.

After polar-opposite starts to the season, it was the Eagles who had the opening chance of the game: Eberechi Eze fired a shot inches wide of Matz Sels' near post, as the away side settled into proceedings.

Jefferson Lerma went into the book early for a professional foul on Anthony Elanga, before a two-minute massacre on the Palace goal somehow didn't result in the opening goal.

Anderson twisted and turned away from three Palace defenders before seeing an effort blocked inside the six-yard area.

On his 50th appearance for the Reds, Chris Wood will be bewildered as to how he didn't open his and Forest's account for the evening: first a point-blank header straight at Dean Henderson and then another aerial attempt that missed high and wide of the Palace goal under little pressure.

With 20 minutes gone and the game now alive and kicking, both keepers had their respective posts to thank for keeping the game at a deadlock.

After joining Palace for a pretty penny in the Summer, Eddie Nketiah had been waiting to ignite his Eagles career, and almost did it in quite spectacular fashion.

A swift break from the visitors found the Palace number nine in a pocket of space 25 yards-out. He shifted the ball onto his right foot and unleashed a thunderous effort destined for the far-right corner. A beaten Sels could only look back, and to his relief, see the effort crash off the post and out for a goal-kick - this a let-off for the home side who looked increasingly susceptible to the Palace counterattack.

And breathe.

The following ten minutes saw a break from the fast paced, end-to-end football we'd witnessed, the only highlights being a few half chances mixed in with a Daichi Kamada yellow card.

With the last action of the half, Wood came agonisingly close to taking the lead once again. Callum Hudson-Odoi combined well with Anderson down the far side. The latter cut inside and released a wicked delivery which beat everyone but Wood. The Kiwi connected well but couldn't guide his effort either side of Henderson, keeping the game goalless at the break.

After a quiet opening five minutes, Eze forced a smart save from Sels, and on the follow up Kamada saw an effort saved from two yards out. Much to his relief, the linesman saved his blushes, as the Japanese international was flagged offside.

The end-to-end tempo was ignited early on once again as Dominguez and Will Hughes had half-chances before the hour mark.

Anderson was the first Forest player into the book after pulling back Nketiah on 60 minutes. The following freekick produced a venomous strike from Eze, 30 yards from goal. The effort was extraordinary, and the save from Sels was equally as impressive, tipping the attempt onto the bar and out for a corner.

Rui Pedro Silva, Forest's number two, bit the bullet first, as Jota Silva was introduced for Elanga.

A Palace side in desperate need of a win was a wounded animal in many aspects. Mistakes are to be expected, yes. However, Henderson will not want to see this one back.

Route one football on 65 minutes handed the Reds the all-important lead. Poised just outside the Palace penalty area, Wood met a knockdown from a long ball sweetly. Henderson got down well, but it squirmed into the bottom left corner. Advantage Forest.

Into the final 15 minutes and struggling to respond the falling behind, Oliver Glasner introduced Ismaila Sarr and Jeffrey Schlupp for Tyrick Mitchell and Will Hughes.

Forest also made a double change with Anderson and Alex Moreno departing for Morato and Neco Williams.

Forest introduced two attacking personnel, refusing to rest on their laurels, with Wood and Hudson-Odoi making way for Taiwo Awoniyi and Ramon Sosa.

With one last throw of the dice for the Eagles, Kamada made way for 19-year-old Asher Agbinone.

To many complaints from the home team, the fourth official indicated there would be seven minutes of added time, as the away side searched for a late equaliser.

Agbinone did well to force a corner as Palace sent forth the cavalry, with the overwhelming feeling it was too little too late.

A poor challenge from Daniel Munoz resulting in another yellow, epitomised the performance of Palace today. Bitty, inexperienced and deprived of real final third quality.

The same can't be said for the home side, who picked up their first victory at the City Ground this season without their manager, star player and set-piece specialist.

A trip to neighbours Leicester awaits Forest, who move up to eighth after as many games continuing a great start to the season.

With the fixtures failing to get any easier for the visitors, Spurs are next at Selhurst Park as the quest for that elusive first win goes on.

The lineups NFO: Sels; Moreno, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina; Dominguez, Yates; Hudson-Odoi, Anderson, Elanga; Wood

CRY: Henderson; Guehi, Lacroix, Chalobah; Mitchell, Lerma, Hughes, Munoz; Kamada, Eze; Nketiah

Ernie Bratherton